Annie's POV

***

I don't really want to go.

I talked to my father countless times to convince him that I never wanted to leave Germany where I already settled my studies, telling him that I'd rather stay even if that means living alone. My father worked abroad where he met a woman on his age whom he married afterwards. I wasn't against their marriage, but they didn't really need to ask me to live with them.

I hate being dragged to adjustments. My brows furrowed along the mild nauseous feeling of homesickness as I watched the foamy clouds through the airplane window.

"You'll love the place too, Annie. Just give it a chance." My father would throw encouraging remarks on our way, which he knew that I didn't need at the moment because my mind was still on the peak of retaliation.

It was late noon when we arrived at New York. My stepmother welcomed us warmly, and the neighborhood seemed to be decent.

"Do you like to meet the neighbors today?" They asked, but I still have things to think of, like how I can return to Germany. I shrugged off the idea of meeting the neighbors, who I supposed, don't really care about my existence.

Besides, I'll surely go home sooner.

I opened my bedroom window straightaway before I unpacked so I could watch the sky and entertain myself. However, the scene was completely different from my expectation.

Instead of the golden sunset, the blonde next-door neighbor came into view. He was reading a book while sitting at the windowsill that was parallel to mine when he heard my window opened. His head darted at me, his eyes showing a hint of surprise before he greeted with a smile and a slow hand wave.

He seems friendly.

His smile didn't fade, like he was waiting for me to give it back, so I pulled a half smile to satisfy him. I only had a glimpse of his smile growing wider when I got back to unpacking my things.

He soon got back to reading his book as my eyes were getting distracted by his page-flipping motions that caused me to throw unintentional gazes.

"Annie, dinner's at six." I heard my father knock before he checked on me, "Hey, don't rush yourself. You'll be comfortable here in no time."

There he goes again with his unnecessary cheering.

"Dad, would you stop that? There's nothing to worry about."

"I'm glad to hear that...oh--" His eyes widened in excitement when he noticed the boy across the window who was already acknowledging his presence with a polite nod, "So, you've met Armin first. What a lucky day." He chuckled as he nodded back.

So, his name is Armin. But I don't see something significant on my father's remark.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just think you two will get along well. I heard he's on the same grade as you."

That didn't answer my question, but before I could ask more, he already left. I checked out on Armin for the last time before I closed the window blind. And he's still reading.

...

The next day, I was brewing a coffee at the kitchen when a car parked at the wide backyard lawn which connected the three neighboring houses, including ours.

I found myself leaning at the kitchen counter as I watched Armin get off the car and wash it with a water hose. I momentarily took my eyes off him when I had to sip on my cup of coffee, only to miss the funniest part. The next thing I saw was the grey shirt he's wearing was all wet.

I can't help but smile at his clumsiness until a brunette boy came running to him as he laughed, followed by a serious-looking girl.

I think Armin was embarrassed and baffled, to the point that he left the water running on his pajama pants. The other boy laughed louder as Armin took off his shirt and pants, leaving his boxers on. Now I can't hold a laugh.

My stepmother caught me chuckling over the counter, smiling at me before the little ruckus captured her attention.

"Oh-my goodness. These little kids—" She covered her mouth as she contained her giggles, "What a perfect moment to introduce them. That one is Armin Arlert, the one you met yesterday, the brown-haired over there is Eren and the girl is Mikasa. They live next to the Arlert's." She mentioned along the tiny chortles.

Armin eventually noticed our gazes as he stopped wringing his clothes, making the other two turn their heads on us.

"Good morning, Aunt Laura!" Eren waved, and Armin took the chance to crawl back to their house and change.

"Kids! Come over here, I'll make a breakfast!"

From that day, they started asking me to hangout whenever they were free. But I have to turn them down. I don't want to be attached to anyone. I still wanted to go back to Germany.

The days seemed to become colder since the day when my father went home with an enthusiastic smile on his face and a bundle of papers on his hand that brought the bad news for me.

"We are just waiting for the documents of your residency." He exclaimed, and they celebrated it.

I couldn't stand being troubled while they were very excited, so I locked myself in my bedroom in weeks. They knew I was just sick, considering that my body was adjusting to the new environment, so they gave me enough space. However, they were still worried.

Those days that I've been thinking repeatedly about my decisions, the only one that made me open up was the boy next door who never closed his window from me.

"Are you ok?" He would mouth with a thumbs up and a half-worried and half-reassuring smile every time our eyes meet.

There was a time when he threw his gamepad at my open window, but he lost calculation and it ended up crushing on the ground below. We just laughed after a minute of shock.

Sometimes, he would forget about my presence a few meters away from his bedroom as he casually walks out from his bathroom, dancing and half naked before he realizes it. He would then crawl on the floor to cover his window and hide for hours probably due to embarrassment.

He was surprisingly well built. One day, I saw him push his bed up to its side, and I found it amazing.

Sometimes, we would just watch each other lay in my bed all day while reading our own books.

He would stick silly posters on his window when he woke up, mostly smiley faces that could regulate my mood.

Watching him wash his car became my everyday routine. One day, before the school year started, he received a vintage motorcycle from his grandfather. He invited me on a ride, but eventually withdrew after a minor street accident with Eren. He stayed in his room for the rest of the vacation due to the sprain that he got from the accident.

"At least we got more time to fool around." He chatted.

My father was not lying, Armin is like a four-leaf clover.

He's brilliant though he often attracts bad luck.

He's a mystery... and I'm a damsel in distress.

With those days, we got to know each other more.

...

Before school started, I was given the chance to say my thoughts when my father asked me if I still wanted to go back to Germany.

His face was the first thing that came into my mind. I found it peculiar that I doubted my answer. I was sure, a month ago, I was fully against living here.

I didn't even realize that the cold days have passed, that I could barely remember the life I had before.

"I want to go back." I answered thoughtlessly. I was unsure, although I couldn't deny that I'm starting to like living with them.

What would he do if he's in my situation? I wondered, so I asked him through a text.

I watched his reaction as he read my message, his lively cerulean eyes dying down as he turned to look at me through the window.

"Why, aren't you happy?" He replied, and I felt my heart sinking. I would lie if I said I'm not. I'm happy but...what was my reason again?

"If you're on my position, would you be happy?"

He laid back to his bed as he hid under the sheets when he received my question, and I couldn't see what he's doing.

"Of course. But we're different." – Armin.

After that, he walked towards the window and slid the glass higher.

"I'm happy."

He read the last message but instead of texting me back, he yelled,

"IF I CAN'T MAKE YOU STAY, I SWEAR I'M GOING TO FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE! WHOEVER YOU ARE!"

His voice echoed on the empty street and we could see the lights of our neighbors turning on one after another. I was surprised as I cocked my brows at him, disbelievingly. He only shrugged and laughed.

"I LOVE YOU, ARMIN ARLERT! PLEASE MARRY ME!" The squeaky voice came from Eren.

The mention of his name only made him equally surprised as mine. But his was a mixture of embarrassment and shock.

More lights were lit up and the dogs started to bark uncontrollably.

"HEY KIDS! IT'S ALREADY MIDNIGHT!" We heard the man across the street complain, and we immediately turned off our own lights, nervous and embarrassed.

"What were you thinking!"

"HAHAHAHA! That was fun!" – Armin

"We'll be dead by morning."

"Mom's here, got to go" – Armin

"Ps. I think I couldn't make it till morning" – Armin

I watched the lights died down one by one and that's when my heart started to calm down.

Who is he talking to? He did say, 'whoever you are'. Was it someone else or was he indirectly talking to me?

...

The first day of school could not get any worse as I found myself alone at the cafeteria after Armin got called to tutor basic Algebra in the library. And I lost track of Eren and Mikasa.

Dammit. Where are they?

The gazes were judgmental enough to make it harder to breathe, and all I wanted to do was go home even though the day actually started nice and smooth.

Armin picked me up at the house earlier. He was hyped when he toured me around the campus, and that's when the disquieting fake smiles and glares went on.

I got to introduce myself in front of the whole class, but it didn't end well. Some vulgar racists started whistling and snickering when Mr. Shadis mentioned that I am a German. I knew they exist, and it didn't surprise me that majority still tolerates racism...

When we get lost in that crowd, nobody will really stand to back us up. Not even Armin.

His liveliness slowly died down after I got humiliated by his friends, and I couldn't read him.

"I'm sorry." was all he said, but the offense has been done and I need to stand up for myself if no one will.

I'm never going to get used to this environment. This is not my place. I clenched my fist as my patience was drying up, until I gave up on searching for Eren and Mikasa, and I decided to go home instead.

On the hallway, I run into the same people who offended me in class. One of them called me bitch, but I could still take that. I speed-walked to avoid them but the guy grabbed my hair and pulled my hair tie. The spectators seemed to enjoy the show, and for a moment, I wished to see familiar faces. I'm still expecting him to stand by my side, to show the same kindness he had shown me this past month.

That's ridiculous. I made up my mind, I'm leaving here.

I faced the guy who pulled my hair, and I saw him tense up. He must have sensed that I can put up a fight.

You wanted this.

...and so, I gave them a good fight.

I clutched at the guy's wrist as I sharply twisted it until I could hear him pleading.

"F*ck, let go, b*tch!"

Ah.

I quickly turned around, still in the wristlock as I broke his arm down against my shoulder, giving him a good-for-a-week strained joint. He was a foot taller than me, and I heard him groan in pain above my head. I immediately unlocked my grip on his wrist when his friend came into his senses and charged at me.

The next was taller and stronger than the first, I could see through his slow movements. I stepped backwards to wait for his next move, but I was stopped when my back hit one of them. He forcefully trapped me in an armlock as another two angry guys carefully approached, anticipating a strike from my free legs.

I tried to escape from the armlock but the guy behind me wasn't giving in either, so I swung my head up and I was able to knock him down, blood dripping from his nose.

They keep on coming.

"Someone, call a teacher!"

"No, let's see what will happen!"

"I never saw her before."

"Who is she?"

"She looks different."

"I heard she's German."

"No kidding."

Their group piled up, and I could hear the cheering crowd which didn't help in the current situation as it just stirred up the angry guys.

"You're not getting away from this." The guy with the broken arm was already on his feet, scowling at me.

I continued to step back while the crowd moved along the center of the fight. No one wanted to take their eyes off on the battle that was nearing in conclusion. But I will just be as pathetic as them if I run away--

"What are you doing?! Get out of the way! Get off!" A familiar voice hollered from behind before his hands reached me and grabbed my shoulders back as he switched place with me.

I was facing his back when he turned his head at me with a visible frown on his face.

"Hey, Armin! Don't spoil the fun, buddy." The taller guy shook his head.

"Who touched her?" He ignored the warning as his shoulders quiver along his shaking fist and reddening nape that I have not seen before.

"Move, Armin."

"WHO THE F*CK TOUCHED HER?" The crowd became quiet for the first time and the silence was rather stifling when Armin's eye darted to the guy who has my hair tie.

"Say you're sorry..."

"Say it." I could hear the rage in his voice and that gave me chills, but that was not fear. I actually had the strange sensation of lightness that has something to do with his presence. From some reasons, I felt safe in the middle of the discomforting crowd...

That made me realize that I was waiting for him to save me, that I didn't care if I run or fight back. I'm just simply waiting for him and test if he's honest with his actions.

That makes me think, am I depending my decision on him? Will he stop me if I go?

"Armin, they didn't hurt me." I said along a light pinch on his shirt.

"No. They need to apologize to you." He insisted, and there was a demand in his tone that mocked the other party.

"For what?" The taller guy snorted, not expecting the next thing that happened...

Armin lunged at him and punched his face, marking the start of the rumble. The tables have turned when Eren and Mikasa arrived at the scene. Even the crowd were scattered with how the four of us cleaned up and takedown a dozen varsity players.

...

"Arlert...you, of all the people, should know that fist is not always the remedy." Principal Erwin Smith talked to us in his office soon after the unprecedented fight.

Armin was quiet the whole time while looking at the floor and his feet, but I didn't see any hint of remorse in his eyes even through his bruised face that screams 'hey, look, I just started a street fight'. What I saw was his serious demeanor that shows fulfillment.

We ended up in detention and as a reward from the mess that we made on the first day of school, we were suspended for a week.

"I'm sorry, you got into a fight because of me." I broke the silence that was building up between us when I was applying treatments on his injuries. As to why he got the most bruises, I didn't know. All I know was he was already out of control before I joined the brawl, "It was obviously your first time."

"Ah—" He winced before it turned into a sheepish chuckle when I accidentally touched a dry wound on his head, "It was my fault. I was keeping it to myself since they discomfited you in class. I'm sorry. I should have stopped them when I felt the tiniest rage. I never intended to leave you during the break. I shouldn't have left you." He mumbled as he fiddled with his fingers.

"Don't apologize, I'm not your responsibility."

"Yes, you are."

He held my wrist, stopping me as he removed the towel on my hand, "I want you to stay. But how can I do that if I can't promise to keep you safe."

His eyes met mine before he immediately averted his gaze as his brows furrowed.

I don't understand.

"Why?"

I felt his hand tightened around my wrist as he pulled me down close to his face. I could see different shades of dread in his eyes as we studied each other's faces like we were trying to read each other's mind. His deep and entrancing eyes were piercing which seemed to cause a tight knot in my stomach.

Behind all the kindness that he showed me, I always find him mysterious.

"I don't know. I can't sleep at night without thinking of you. I am always looking forward, to see you every day. I felt the need to make you happy, to make you smile. That feeling... I never felt it before..." He contemplated, and I found myself comparing my thoughts to his before I realized that I've been holding my breath the whole time.

"I think I like you, Annie."

He waited for an answer, but I failed to understand him. I failed to explain my emotions...but his searching eyes were telling me that I don't need to. I don't always need to find the answer...

I don't understand at all...

I rammed my lips to his as I held his head in place before it even occurred to me. He got my mind spinning like some sort of hypnosis, and my body reacts before I could even think.

I wanted to thank him, I wanted to tell him how lucky I am to meet a wonderful person like him despite the fact that all I did was to find a way to leave. And he's making it harder for me to go...yet I don't think he was forcing me to stay.

I became so selfish.

He broke the kiss, leaving a needing touch as he held my face so dearly that it turned me on, even more.

"If you still wanted to go, I'll be with you." His voice was filled with reassurance, like he was telling me something deeper behind those words, "I'll go anywhere you are."

I bit my lip as I refrained from tearing apart. He read through me. He might have seen the fear in my eyes when I was tested in his world. He saw how hard I tried to adjust. He knew that I was hurting.

He already knew me very well in a glimpse. That makes me wonder, was he always watching me?

"You need someone to watch over you." He continued voicing out my thoughts as if he's reading me like an open letter, a smile crept on his face, and I knew he was trying to break me, "And I need someone to watch over."

He wasn't lying. I answered him with another kiss before he rolled me down to my bed where sat as he laid beside me.

"You're too quiet..." His lips curled up as he turned his head to face me.

"Because I don't have something to say."

"So, when?" He asked, and I looked at him, curious.

"But I'm already happy here."

"Talk to me."

"I'm staying, for f*ck's sake, Armin. You're just making me cry."

He laughed and it was contagious and addictive.

"Ah, I never felt this relieved." He sighed as his hand tensely slipped between my fingers.

"But if you ask me again, I might change my mind." I looked back at the ceiling and it felt like I was watching my memories in Germany. It made me want to tear up.

"Then I'll ask you again." He said.

The feeling was unknown, and I could not seem to find my spot, but he knows where to put me. It was a riddle.

"You're mysterious." A chuckle escaped my lips as he blushed.

"Eren always tells me that I can read minds. But that's silly." He laughed with me as his fingers locked in mine, "I know you don't have a plan to stay. I want you to choose natural happiness, the way you like it. Not the one we forced to you."

"What about us?"

"Well," He tilted back his head over mine as he pulled me into a tight embrace, "You'll be my girlfriend until I become financially stable. I'll marry you and we'll live in Germany together. How's that?"

"You sounded like an old man in the body of an idealistic 16-year-old boy." I teased, only receiving a soft chuckle from him.

"That's the only quality I can be proud of--"

"I think you're amazing."

I want to keep you.

...

It all went like a dream. Every day, I'd wake up alone in my room. Sometimes with Pieck, one of my concerned neighbors. My father with his wife would visit me quarterly.

Armin's right. This is what I need, and I never felt alone. He painstakingly kept his promise to stay in touch, sending me photos and videos of his daily adventures. He's always sweet, I had no complains...

Except that I madly miss him.

I was walking down the street from work when I noticed that Pieck already left. The wind blew dramatically as the trees showered their leaves along the cold breeze of fall. The 'for rent' plate that was hanging in front the Finger's house danced and clanged against the door as if telling me that I am all alone. The neighborhood was too quiet either and I tried to ignore the horror of living in a ghost town, one of the movies which Armin recommended to me.

That's ridiculous.

I proceeded to my house to warm myself before I fell asleep in the bathtub. I was only awakened due to my growing habit of waking up at 12 midnight, when Armin would call me in the evening at 7 o'clock in New York.

The water was already cold, but the first thing I did was reach for my phone to check if he called...and I was right, I missed it. I did not get a sleep after that, so I used the time to do some unfinished projects and reports in work before I went out to shop for food.

The sun had not yet totally risen when I went to the market and I noted that the plate hanging on the door of my neighboring house was still there, but it was already gone on my way back to my house.

So, someone already occupied it?

I paused in front of the house to appreciate its coziness. I wouldn't be surprised if someone already bought it. Besides, the houses in our neighborhood were subjects of demand. I remember the time when someone urged my father to sell his property. It was rather scary. I hope I'd get a nice neighbor.

I reached for my keys in my pocket as I held the paper bag on my other arm. I accidentally tilted back, and a can of tuna rolled down on my doorstep.

"Good morning, Miss Annie. Do you need a hand?"

Armin— I turned to whom the voice was coming from.

I guess I'm expecting too much...

"You're early today." Falco Grice picked up the can before he helped me with the paper bag so I could find my keys.

"Mm. Thank you, Falco." I took back my things as he gave me a curt nod before he pulled the door close.

Just as the lock clicked, my phone rang and I immediately picked it up, the can of tuna rolling out again in the process, but I ignored it this time. My hand was more than desperate to answer the call when I saw who it was...

"Good morning. Have you taken your breakfast?" He greeted, and I heard him yawn. He always talked like he was close to me and it never failed to make me smile.

"Not yet. I just got home from the market." I mindlessly placed my things on the kitchen counter as I attentively listened to the chinks in his background, "Are you home?"

"Ah, yes. I didn't go to work--"

"Are you sick?"

"Uhm, I'm totally fine," He chuckled along his faint clumps on what seems to be a wooden floor, "Where are you right now?"

"On my way to the bedroom."

"Great."

I remember his voice all too well. I would smile involuntarily with the purrs that his breathing makes through his device--

"What do you see?" He suddenly said, and his voice sounded so real that I felt the impulse to turn my head to my bedroom window—

Nostalgia quickly crept on my skin as the blonde next-door neighbor came into view. Everything felt surreal, like this happened before.

He greeted me with a smile and a slow wave as his other hand holds his phone to his ear.

"Ah, you're beautiful. I should have told you that when we first met, but I unfortunately swallowed my tongue."

His smile grew wider as he stared into my eyes, drowning me with his own calming blue orbs that washes my thoughts like waves.

I love all of him. And I'll always want to keep him.

"So, will you come over for breakfast?"

"I would love to. But firstly...will you marry me?"

"I'll marry you every day, Arlert."

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End Note:

I'm considering a part two in Armin's perspective but...uh...